Death and injuries caused by road collisions leave a long-lasting impact on millions across the world.

The World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims was founded to honor the lives of victims and families of road traffic collisions and to draw attention to the consequences of road crashes and measures that can be taken to prevent them.

Crashes are not accidents.Take the pledge to stop using the word “accident” today.

Death and injuries caused by road collisions leave a long-lasting impact on millions across the world. Every one of these deaths and serious injuries affects not just the people directly involved but their family, friends, and communities. We can prevent these tragedies.

Everyone has the right to be safe on our streets, regardless of the way they choose to travel. Together, we can end traffic deaths and serious injuries.

Why say crash instead of accident?
Traffic crashes are preventable through better street design and personal behavior. Crashes are not inevitable, which the word “accident” implies for many people. That’s why we call them crashes, not accidents.

Why does this matter?
Actions matter, but so do words. They help frame the discussion and can shift the way we think about and tackle problems as a society. Our deeply entrenched habit of calling preventable crashes “accidents” frames traffic deaths as unavoidable by-products of our transportation system and implies that nothing can be done about it, when in reality these deaths are not inevitable. Crashes are not accidents. Let’s stop using the word “accident” today by taking the pledge.

About Carolyn Dvorak, La Crosse Ambassador

Carolyn lives in La Crosse with her husband and two daughters. She has loved riding a bicycle throughout her life. She enjoys working in the La Crosse area helping to create great places to bicycle.

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One thought on “November 18th is World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims”

Thanks for this. I work in the trauma unit of a hospital and we use the word “crash” exclusively. Crash contains no implications. It is a statement of what occurred. “Accident” carries with it the implications you describe; that it was “unpreventable”, an “act of god”, “just something that happened”. It is a word that absolves everyone of responsibility.